An Analysis Of Kant’s Theory Of Human Nature

Human nature is a fundamental topic of philosophical research.Any philosopher’s thought is based on a certain tendency of human nature.The core question of humanity is what it is to be human,and whether we can recognize the essence of human is the key to correctly understand human nature.As a philosopher,Kant also had a unique view of human nature.Kant believes that the essence of human nature lies in reason,and the application of practical reason at different levels is reflected in human nature.Kant raised the basis of predecessors’ theory of human nature in the absorption and the confrontation between good and evil in human nature,perceptual and rational opposing points of view,both see the goodness of human nature,also saw the evil of human nature,both saw the emotional factors in the human nature,also saw the rationality in human nature,description of human nature to do a comprehensive,complete the "Copernicus revolution" in the history of theory of human nature thought.The first step in understanding an idea is to understand its origin.Therefore,to analyze Kant’s theory of human nature,we must first understand the foundation of Kant’s thought,including the foundation of his predecessors’ theory and Kant’s division of the two worlds.The discussion of human nature from ancient Greece to modern times laid the foundation for Kant’s view of human nature.Kant’s own theory on the division of the two worlds also laid the foundation for his exploration of human nature.Secondly,to understand a thought to grasp its basic structure.Structure is a frame of thought,and knowledge will appear chaotic if we fail to grasp the frame of thought.It would be very clear to divide the basic structure of Kant’s theory of human nature into general practical reason and pure practical reason according to the different levels and degrees of practical reason.At the level of general practical rationality,rationality is controlled by emotional desire and follows the desire,which cannot show the fundamental difference between human beings and animals.Human nature at this level is also manifested in different levels due to the different degree of rational participation,which are the bad human nature tendency,the impure human nature tendency,the fragile human nature tendency,and the human nature tendency based on the emotional needs of the human heart.At the level of purely practical reason,reason is no longer governed by emotional desires,but completely removes the predilections of the senses,decrees laws for itself,and humbles men before them,thus creating a sense of respect for them.This sense of respect motivates people to conscientiously perform their duties and behave morally.The last part is the reflection of Kant’s theory of human nature.The first is to defend Kant’s theory of human nature.Kant’s treatises on human nature are often criticized as formalism,ionism and idealism,which do not really understand the connotation of Kant’s theory of human nature.Kant does not only emphasize the highest level of human nature but belies the lower level of human nature.Kant really saw the different levels of human nature and believed that it is the common practical reason and pure practical reason that can better present human nature.Kant’s description of pure practical reason only reveals the highest level of human nature,so that pure practical reason has more opportunities to play,so that the lower level of human nature is promoted to the higher level,and the real world gradually becomes the world of morality.The second is to discuss the methodology of pure practical reason.It is necessary and possible to upgrade general practical reason into pure practical reason,and we should pay attention to the method of upgrading,which is to pay attention to the process and step by step;And to promote qualitative change,to achieve the promotion of human nature.